Fireproof container



Sept. 6, 1949.. M. ESSMAN v ,4

mnmraoor coumnmn Filed April 24, 948

9 .1 1 Phi; '1/ III VIII/I IIIII/IIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIII/IIIIIIIIIIIIIIIl/III/IIII/llI/IA 71/1 INVEN TOR. MANUEL ESSMAN Patented Sept. 6, 1949 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE FIREPROOF CONTAINER Manuel Essman, New York, N. Y. Application April 24, 1948, Serial No. 23,112

Claims.

The present invention relates to improvements in fireproof containers forfilm rolls and other inflammable material.

Motion picture film rolls are generally stored in specially constructed fireproof vaults which are of expensive design and which obviously afford protection to the film rolls only while they are actually in storage. Since films are constantly being shipped from some central distribution point to exhibitors, often traveling over great distances and bein subjected to varying conditions and hazards, it is desirable to provide a container for individual film reels which will aflord maximum protection against fire hazard and mechanical injury in transit.

Accordingly it is the primary object of the invention to provide a fireproof container of simple design and construction having a central inner compartment for housing an individual film reel and an outer compartment containing fire retarding material for the protection of the film reel.

Another object of the invention is the provision of a fireproof container of the character indicated which will maintain the film reel in tightly coiled condition preventing buckling and minimizing the possibility of mechanical injury and damage to the edges of the film in transit.

A further object of the invention is the provision of a fireproof film container havin improved integral handle means for transporting the container.

Another object of the invention is the provision of a fireproof container which may be fabricated inexpensively; which is of highly compact construction and which is so designed as to stand upright on a supporting surface, such as a table, floor or shelf.

The foregoing objects as well as additional objects and advantages of the invention will be readily apparent in the course of the following detailed description taken in connection with the accompanying drawing which illustrates a preferred embodiment, and wherein:

Fig. l is a plan view of the base portion of the container.

Fig. 2 is a plan view of the cover portion of the container.

Fig. 3 is a cross sectional view taken along line 3-3 of Fig. 2.

Fig. 4 is a cross sectional view taken along line 4-4 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 5 is a plan view of the assembled container.

Fig. 6 is a side elevation of the assembled container.

Referring now to the drawings in greater detail, the container may be constructed from sheet metal and comprises the complementary, interfitting base portion l0 and cover portion I I.

Said base portion and cover portion are preferably formed with fiat bottom walls Illa and I la respectively, fiat side walls lllb and I lb respectively and interconnecting fiat walls I00 and He respectively, the remaining portion of the peripheral walls being substantially circular, as shown in the drawing. An integral handle grip portion I2 is alsoiormed on the base portion and cover portion.

Wall portions llla, I00 and lb and the respective intervening circular wall portion define the outer peripheral flange l3 of base portion l0 while wall portions H a, [to and lib and the respective intervening circular wall portion define the outer peripheral flange H of interfiitting cover portion H Base portion I0 is further provided with a circular inner partition 15 defining a central circular inner compartment l6 and an outer compartment l1. Similarly, cover portion l l is provided with a circular inner partition l5a defining a central circular inner compartment lBa and an outer compartment Ha. Within each of the outer compartments l1 and Ila there is placed a layer or blanket it of suitable fire-retarding material, such as asbestos or the like. I

In the preferred embodiment of the invention maximum fireproofing protection is afforded to the film reel by providingior interfitting, telescopic engagement between the circular partition 15 and the circular partition |5a upon engagement of base portion In and cover portion l I. In addition circular partition l5 may be provided with spaced vertical grooves IQ for the reception of correspondingl spaced ribs 20 in order to more efiectively retain, protect and seal the film reel disposed within the central compartment of the container.

In order to facilitate removal of the film reel, circular base portion I5 is preferably provided with a pair of diametrically opposed cutouts or recesses 2| which receive cooperating lugs 22 formed on circular cover partition |5a in the closed condition of the container.

In order to securely interengage base portion I0 and cover portion ll during shipment the outer surfaces and peripheral walls thereof may be provided with pairs of spaced ribs or protuberances 23 defining diagonally extending guide channels 24 for the reception of fire-retarding strap elements 25 of asbestos or other asanoas suitable material which may be fastened in place by means of conventional buckles 26 or the like.

The invention is not to be limited to the specific shape of container shown although the provision of a flat bottom edge and flat side ,edge enable the containers to be maintained in upright position and to be compactly and conveniently arranged on a shelf. The cover portion or closure member may have an overfi tting flange which coacts with the flange of the body portion, rather than having a recessed flange as shown inthe drawing. Further. the telescopic engagement of the circular inner partitions of the body and cover members together with the interengaging grooves and ribs may be omitted,

if desired, while still retaining effective fire-.

proofing characteristics for the container.

The container may be used eil'ectively for transporting both raw, light sensitive film and finished film rolls. The design of the container combines maximum fireproofing protection which enhances facility of handling and storage. The outer peripheral walls of the container act as buiiers to take the full load of denting and rough handling which normally adversely affect the edges of the outer convolutions of coiled film in conventional film cans, subsequently causing film to feed improperly or even tear in the projector. and therefore the container affords considerably greater protection against wear and abuse during transportation than has heretofore been possible.

Since certain additional modifications may be made in the fireproof container of the present invention without departing from the scope thereof, it is intended that all matter contained in the foregoing specification and shown in the accompanying drawing be interpreted merely as illustrative and not in a limiting sense.

What is claimed is: I

l. A fireproof container for film rolls comprising complementary, interfitting body and cover portions, said body and cover portions each having an inner partition defining a central inner compartment and an outer compartment and fire-retarding material disposed in said outer compartment.

2. A fireproof container for film rolls comprising complementary, interfitting body and cover portions, said body and'cover portions each having a circular inner partition defining a central inner compartment and an outer compartment and fire-retarding material disposed in said outer compartment.

3. A fireproof container for film rolls comprising complementary, interfitting body and cover portions, said body and cover portions each having a circular inner partition defining a central inner compartment and an outer compartment, fire-retarding material disposed in said outer compartment, and integral cooperating handle elements formed on said body and cover portions. 4. A fireproof container for film rolls comprising complementary, interfitting body and cover portions, said body and cover portions each having a circular inner partition defining a central inner compartment and an outer compartment, fire-retarding material disposed in said outer compartments, integral cooperating handle elements formed on said body and cover portions, cooperating guide channels formed in the outer 4 surfaces of said body and cover portions and fireretarding strap elements disposable within said guide channels for securely interengaging said body and cover portions.

5. A fireproof container for film rolls comprising complementary, interfitting body and cover portion-s, said body and cover portions each having a circular inner partition defining a central inner compartment and an outer compartment, fire-retarding material disposed in said outer compartments, said body and cover portions each including a fiat bottom wall, a fiat side wall and a fiat interveningwall, the remaining outer peripheral wall being substantially circular and integral cooperating handle elements formed on said body portion.

6. A fireproof container for film rolls comprising complementary, interfitting body and cover portions, said body and cover portions each having a circular inner partition defining a central inner compartment and an outer compartment, fire-retarding material disposed in said outer compartments, said body and cover portions each including a fiat bottom wall, a fiat side wall and a flat intervening wall, the remaining outer Deripheral wall being substantially circular and integralcooperatlng handle elements formed on said body portion, cooperating guide channels formed in the outer surfaces of said body and cover portions and fire-retarding strap elements disposable within said guide channels for segiurely interenga'ging said body and cover porans.

'1. A fireproof container in accordance with claim 3 wherein said circular inner partitions are arrangedlfor telescopic interengagement, one .of said partitions having spaced vertical grooves formed therein, the other of said partitions having cooperating ribs engageable within said grooves, whereby to protect and seal a film roll within the central inner compartment of the container.

8. A fireproof container in accordance with claim 4 wherein said circular inner partitions are arranged for telescopic interengagement, one

of said partitions having spaced vertical grooves formed therein, the other of said partitions having cooperating ribs engageabl within said grooves, whereby to protect and seal a film roll within the central inner compartment of the container.

9. A fireproof. container in accordance with claim 5 wherein said circular innerpartitions are arranged for telescopic interengagement, one of said partitions having spaced vertical grooves formed therein,- the other of said partitions having cooperating ribs engageable within said grooves, whereby to protect and seal a film roll within the central inner compartment of the container. I

10. .A fireproof container in accordance with claim 6 wherein said circular inner partitions are arranged for telescopic interengagement, one of said partitions having spaced vertical grooves formed therein, the other of said partitions hav'-.- ing cooperating ribs engageable within said grooves, whereby to protect and seal a film roll within the central inner compartment of the container.

MANUEL ESSMAN.

No references cited. 

